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Despite the brand’s popularity among a considerable population of cigar smokers, I’ve steered clear of Puros Indios since my subpar experience with a harsh and physically flawed Piramide No. 3. But I’ve been told by a reliable source that the relatively obscure Double Maduro line is worth a look.

The blend is comprised of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Brazilian filler tobaccos rolled in an Ecuadorian binder and wrapped in an Ecuadorian sungrown Sumatra double maduro leaf. You’ll have a hard time finding these, including the 6 inch by 53 ring gauge Toro Especial, which retails for $55-70 per box of 20.

Like other blends in the Puros Indios lineup, Double Maduro is produced south of Danlí, Honduras, under the guidance of Rolando Reyes Sr. On a quick side note, Señor Reyes “claims to be the only factory owner who also retains the atmosphere of Cuban cigar factories of old by having a full-time lector read the day’s news and other literature to the rollers as they work.”

He also refuses to use chemicals or taste additives and “continues to inspect all cigars manufactured in his factory.” Maybe the inspection standards for physical appearance aren’t terribly high. The two toothy and rustic Toro Especiales I smoked for this review included some big veins and sloppy seams.

Taste counts much more in my book, though, so I lit up with an open mind. I was greeted with rich notes of pepper, cocoa, and nut that quickly transitioned into a deep tobacco flavor. Not unlike the Montecristo Classic, I also found a bit of marshmallow hollowness. But the Double Maduro—which on the whole I would describe as full-bodied but not strong—is far less complex, remaining largely unchanged until ramping up the spice at the very end.

Both of my Toro Especiales exhibited uneven burns that extinguished themselves from time to time, clear draws that produced ample tufts of smoke with each puff, and flaky and unstable ashes.

Altogether, despite the $2.75-3.50 per stick price, I wasn’t terribly impressed with this particular vitola. There are better values to be had. For homely appearance, pleasant yet less-than-enticing flavor, and unfortunate construction, I give the Puros Indios Double Maduro Toro Especial two and ½ stogies out of five.